Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-09-26

breathes, his ewes see, his ears hear,
he stirs, he rises, he walks, and the
renewed blood creeps back into his
pale face. D. was this drowned
man. On his face, where even now
one could read the traces of a moral
agony, healthy glow by degrees dis
PEELED his pallor, and his heart, buoy
ed by hope, little by little beat once
more calmly. He was like new
man.
But a single stroke of luck-the
taking of every trick-put me ahead,
and D began again to lose hope.
l had three points as well as he, and
it was my deal. l turned up the
knave of hearts. D took up his
cards with feverish movement. He
had a good hand, for a smile of en-
couragement again lightened his face.
I had in my hand three small trumps,
the ace and the ten of spades. Do
not wonder at this exactness-the
game left on me so vivid an impress
sion. that all the details will remain
in my memory.
i have the king" said D
and having shown it, he played 1t
down with assurance. This begin
ing augured i'll for me, and his sec
ond card-the king was accompanied
by the queen-put him so near out
that l deemed the game lost to me.
But really, in spite Of appearances,
with my trump and my poor little
spades. | made the three other tricks.
The king of clubs followed the
king and queen of trumps on the Ia
BILE. won with both spades.
D.. had not a spade-not an
other trump.
l had gained
Suddenly a vision came before me.
with deep, tender eyes, innocent and
unconsciously provocative; masses
of gold-colored hair; skin so white
and so soft to the touch; beneath the
cambric covering a form clear and
full. Just as | had seen her at the
time Of my first visit to the Cocotiers.
A storm of madness swept over my
vacillating mind and left me power
less to resist its impulse. / seized
the key, without daring to look at
anv one, and ran out, bareheaded,
from the French Club.
Yes. l was even so base. Holding
in my hand the open sesame to a
treasure more precious to me than all
the magnifcence of the thousand and
one sights. l sped toward the Coco
tiers, determined TO make use Of my
gain.
The azure splendor of the nights
there folded around me caressingly.
The tropical flowers breathed into the
fresh air their penetrating perfumes.
From the ineffably pure heavens,
where the clear stars trembled and
kept rigid, like old friends, a gentle
calmness seemed to settle on my
burning face, and, creeping to the
very depth Of my beng, enveloped
me like the garments Of some fair
guiding angel. Under the benign in
fiuence my hot blood cooled. AL
ready l repented my course, and
found myself, for the first time dur
ing the evening, in the humOr TO re-
feet.
Was this woman a slave, piece
of merchandise, that / had bought
her thus for gold: Now all my infa-
my rushed upon me with a brutal
force. / loathed myself, and. turn
ing my back to the Cocotiers, / fed
ike a thief caught IN the act Breath
less, / reached the edge Of the river,
where the ferry-boat was anchored.
/ hailed the ferryman, and had him
carry me to the Goeland, which de-
parted at daybreak for France, with
the Governor. There / would es-
cape all possibility Of yielding 10
temptation.
1t was not without a heart-pang
that, less than an hour after, the
Goeland lifted anchor, and ] bid
adieu To st Louis. over yonder the
cocoa trees stood out clear against
the crimson horizon, shielding, with
their lanceolated palms, the cottage
where no doubt she slept. At the
sight ! barely kept back the bitter
tears that welled up 70 my eyes.
went down precipitately 70 my cab
in, and wept there unrestrainedly-
why not confess it;-alone with the
memory Of her whom loved, ] know
now, with such intensity.
The narrator paused, and took a
swallow from a glass Of wine with
which, at the order Of the Duchess
Helen, a lackey served him.
Il am curious" said the little
Countess d'Aur. ssto know how the
beautiful Madame D. received
her unworthy husband :"
she was never seen 10 her again.
Madame" replied the doctor, grayly.
Il have since learned that, after my
departure, D brought justice on
himself in the card room By putting q
ball from a revolver through bis
breast. As for Madame D.. she .
has heard the history; the scorn-
for him dead-had killed IN her an f.
love for her husband. II she was set
IN love with her choice. She vac TOO
proud To cry much, they told me.